And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind

Listen easy, you can hear God callingWalking barefoot by the streamCome on to me, Your hair's softly fallingOn my face as in a dreamAnd the time will be our timeAnd the grass won't pay no mind

Saying nothing, lying where the sun isBaking down upon our sidesMy lips touch you, with their soft wet kissesYour hands gentle in replyAnd the time will be our timeAnd the grass won't pay no mind

Child, touch my soul with your criesAnd the music will know what we've foundI, hear a hundred good-byesBut today I hear only one soundThe moment we're living is nowNow now now now now now now

Young bird flying, and a soft wind blowingCools the sweat inside my palmsClose my eyes, hear the flowers growingAs you lay sleeping in my armsAnd the time will be our timeAnd the grass won't pay no mindNo the grass won't pay no mind

Recorded: 1969/02/17, first released on Back in Memphis (From Memphis to Vegas)

A song that suited his voice just perfectly. This despite fierce competition from other 1969 Memphis recordings has always been one of my favourites from those sessions. He had a smoothness and feeling in his voice that other pretenders could never match, and this song displays that gift to perfection.

This is an over looked slice of top drawer quality material from Elvis. He sounds quite different in this tune. Different for the better, very relaxed and interested. This song as sang but Elvis makes me think of a hot summer day by a stream in the country side with a beautiful girl in the long grass ........

The story is that Elvis wanted studio time and musicians from Neil Diamond and promised to record a song of him in return for the favor. This is a pretty recording but not at the same standard as the really great Memphis recordings. Neil Diamond and Elvis are not a natural match in my opinion. Nevertheless, pretty song and three stars from me.

The only reason great songs like this weren't released as singles was because Billboard Magazine was and is protecting the Beatles. "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind" deserved to be a huge hit by "The King".

Didnt care for Elvis' version of Caroline, but this is great. What a delivery and great mature lyrics. Fruity? This is sublime, period. I think it had hit single potential also. Blows away most 70's ballads for several reasons. A more soulful and not over the top vocal , a simpler arrangement , and a Chips Moman production!

I am stunned by the comments I am reading about this one. I see several people who put down Elvis singing songs like "The Last Farewell" raving about this "fruity" tune. Elvis does sing it well, but he doesn't really sound like himself on the verses. Thank goodness, Elvis only covered a few of Neil's tunes, because I can't take this one. I guess several of you are upset that Elvis never recorded the awful "I Am, I Said" or the equally dopey "Song, Sung Blue". If only Elvis had lived until at least 1979 so he could have covered "Forever In Blue Jeans". And some of you have the never to say Elvis' 70's ballads were sappy and/or over the top. 2 1/2 stars for this song.

Very good song. There is a special feel & quality to these 1969 recordings that was lost in the 70's somehow. Probably could have been a hit single. Diamond's version is also very good but not quite as good.

Great Elvis song and one he clearly 'made is own'!!(i happen to think that it's actualy better than the Neil Diamond version)and it sounds even better on "memphis sessions RCA/FTD cd as an undubbed version,aswell as sounding raw and taken back on the import cd from 1996 "American Crown Jewles"(bilko).